Wandering Hunted New Life in Surabaya

This journey was started in early August 2015. After I resigned from the  company I worked  in the West Jakarta. Nearly 8 months, I have worked in PT Conbloc Infratecno, a private contractor company headquartered in Meruya Ilir, West Jakarta. The first time I worked there, I was assigned on site in Ende, Flores – East Nusa Tenggara to handle a national road construction project along 15.6 Km. From November 2015 to July 2015.

Due to lots of consideration, from financial, environment, and working system, in end of July 2015, I decided to resign from the company. Then, I decided a new moved place to Surabaya City in East Java. I didn’t know why I got the decision to move to Surabaya. Even though for the job vacancies, Jakarta seemingly have better opportunity and certainty than Surabaya. I answered I don’t know, why my heart and these foot wanted to go to Surabaya.

With the limited capital and the remaining money left  from the last salary and savings after I worked several months in Flores, I ventured to order a train ticket from Jakarta to Surabaya. And another worst thing is, in Surabaya I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know precisely how Surabaya was, even  to stayed there I didn’t know where I have to stay.

I departed from Pasar Senen Station – Jakarta around 03:45 p.m and arrived at Pasar Turi Station-Surabaya around 03:10 a.m. When I arrived, I was confused where I had to go because the time was still early morning, and also I didn’t know much about Surabaya area. And I decided to sit waiting at a minimarket at station area until 6 a.m. Then, I ride the public transportation car (angkot) with destination to Airlangga University, because I assumed that if I choose the area around campus, maybe I could get  the cheaper rent house than the other areas and certainly the food price was also affordable.  

      After arrived around UNAIR Campus B Area. Then, I searched for the rented house and I got a type of the rent house for employee with price 450.000 IDR/month, furnished with perfunctory facilities and outdoor bathroom. The next day, I began searching the information about the construction companies in Surabaya, one of the companies was PT Wijaya Kusuma Contractors (WKC) Surabaya branch, to fill the position as Quality Assurance (QA). I applied by coming directly to the office. But unfortunately, after I applied, day by day, the good news for the work there was not calling. It have felt almost 2 weeks I lived in Surabaya. The hopelessness began to come due to the fact that I was alone, I didn’t know anyone here, and even no good news about all my job applications, and addition that the condition my money was running low.

Finally, I decided to apply for a job via online job provider for the Jakarta and Bandung areas. After a few days later, I got a work call to do the test in Bandung and Tangerang which the different time  in a day. I thought, maybe these were my way  back to Jabodetabek area again. Then, I directly ordered train ticket to Bandung, and the next day I continued by bus to Tangerang. When I had rode a train, along the way, I got a call for the test and that was from PT WKC which I have ever applied. The test would be held on the day after at 09:00 a.m. Because at the moment, my position was on the train, I requested to reschedule  for the test in the next week, after all the process of the test in Bandung and Tangerang was finished.

The process of the test in Bandung and Tangerang were finished. With full of doubt I went back again to Surabaya because the remaining money was  limited. Also, I was not  sure after the process of the test in Surabaya later, whether I could be received and directly work soon or not. But after considering and deep thinking, I decided to go to Surabaya again using train from Pasar Senen Station. I have arrived in Surabaya in early morning and around 09.00 a.m, I immediately come to the PT WKC office which located in South Ngagel Jaya, I rode public transportation car went there. I met an HRD staff which have ever called me. During the test, I was required to fill the test with some questions about building construction. Honestly, I didn’t know more about building construction because my last job was on the road construction, but I tried to answer the question as much as I could. Then, I continued to interview with the users (Coordinator Project Manager and Project Manager). I just knew on the time  that the job position offered for me was as Site Manger not as Quality Assurance which I have applied before.

I felt confused because the position was very prestigious, who I have not ever had experiences in a building construction project. I thought whether this company was not wrong to choose me as a Site Manager. Because this postion was very crucial and important in a project, Site Manager is the second leader in Project who lead directly all project activities on site. During the interview with users, I was asked about construction management such as cost controlling, quality controlling, and time scheduling.  I answered as best as I could, and honestly I was not sure with my answer.

After the interview process was finished, I was given a letter to come on the next day in psychological testing institute located near from PT WKC office. The next day with the erratic feeling because I was not sure with yesterday’s test, I came to the institute, I did a test about personality test, leadership test, and the last was interview with the psychologist. The process lasted  half a day from 09:00 a.m to 12:00 a.m. After that, I returned to my rent house and prayed for the best.

A week after the test and when the remaining time of my rent house was nearly end, a call from PT WKC came, They told that I was accepted and the next day I was asked to come to the office to negotiate salary and signed the employement contract. When the time, I was not sure, I was accepted as a youngest Site Manager in PT WKC with my job experiences was still less than a year, and my age at the time was 22 years 6 months.

The next day, I came to PT WKC office, then I met directly with Project Manager Coordinator. He gave me an employement contact letter include the salary nominal. After all the process was finished, 2 days later I went to my project in Citraland-Surabaya to handle commercial building project amount 22 units. I was so happy and that was beyond my expectation before I moved from Jakarta to Surabaya. I believe that ALLAH has managed all of these. For me, the fortune is not a matter of a smart people or not, but the fortune is about feeling grateful and never stop trying when it fails. Because wherever and however, the fortune will always come over if it is already sustained. All of these will never be exchanged. Believe that, the fortune will come  at the right time and all will be beautiful in time.